At seven in the morning, the chen hour has arrived, and sunlight streams through the window lattice onto the pages of a book. This should be the most clear-headed moment of the day. Yet for some people, when they pick up their phone or open the newspaper, the text seems veiled in a thin gauze—even when held close, it remains indistinct. This troubling "blurred vision, where even near objects cannot be seen clearly" is not uncommon in traditional Chinese medicine clinical practice. It always arrives quietly and unannounced, as if the body is trying to remind us of something.
In the meridian theory of traditional Chinese medicine, the eyes are closely connected to multiple meridians, and among them there is one acupoint that physicians throughout the ages have regarded as essential for eye disorders—Jingming (BL1). Jingming, also known as the tear hole or inner canthus, is located on the face, in the depression slightly above the inner canthus of the eye. It belongs to the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian and is the meeting point of the Hand and Foot Taiyang, Foot Yangming, Yin Qiao, and Yang Qiao—five meridians. The Zhenjiu Jiayijing records that "for unclear vision, Jingming governs it," showing that this acupoint has a deep theoretical connection with visual function in traditional Chinese medicine. The local qi and blood at Jingming are abundant, making it an important gateway through which the essential qi of all meridians ascends to nourish the eyes.
The Same Blurred Vision, Yet Radically Different Roots—Comparison and Differentiation of Three Constitutional Types
In the view of traditional Chinese medicine, blurred vision and the inability to see near objects clearly can by no means be summed up with the single phrase "everyone gets like this with age." Clinically, it is often closely related to three constitutional states, and the differences among them frequently determine completely opposite directions of treatment.
Constitution A: Liver Blood Deficiency Type—In this group, the eyes are dry and vision is blurry, worsening especially after prolonged eye use. It is often accompanied by a sallow complexion, brittle and thin nails, and a tendency toward dizziness. Traditional Chinese medicine says that "the liver opens into the eyes." When liver blood is insufficient, the ocular orifices lose nourishment, just as a lamp flickers dimly when the oil is nearly exhausted. These individuals typically sleep lightly and dream excessively, and women may also have scanty menstruation. What their eyes need is "adding oil," not "trimming the wick."
When speaking of the connection between the liver and the eyes, one cannot fail to mention Taichong (LR3). Taichong is located on the dorsum of the foot, in the depression anterior to the junction of the first and second metatarsal bones. It belongs to the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian and is the Shu-stream and Yuan-source point of the liver meridian. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that "the liver opens into the eyes," and that liver blood ascends to nourish the eyes, enabling vision. As an important site where the qi and blood of the liver meridian converge, Taichong is closely related to the free coursing of liver qi and the fullness of liver blood. In the meridian theory of ancient texts, Taichong is often used to regulate the rise and fall of qi and blood in the liver meridian, thereby influencing the nourishment of the ocular orifices.
Constitution B: Kidney Essence Insufficiency Type—This is entirely different from the previous type. In those with kidney essence deficiency, blurred vision is often accompanied by soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees, tinnitus like the sound of cicadas, and diminished memory. They lack energy during the day and tend to feel sleepy in the afternoon, yet at night they may urinate frequently. The kidneys store essence; essence generates marrow; marrow fills the brain and nourishes the eyes. When kidney essence is deficient, it is like a great tree whose roots have loosened—the branches and leaves naturally wither. These individuals tend to be older, or have chronically overexerted themselves and damaged their essence through staying up late.
Constitution C: Phlegm-Dampness Internal Obstruction Type—This is the type most easily overlooked. Along with blurred vision and difficulty seeing near objects clearly, these individuals often feel heaviness in the head as if wrapped in cloth, chest oppression with excessive phlegm, and a heavy sensation in the body. The tongue coating is thick and greasy, and the stool is sticky and sluggish. Phlegm-dampness obstructs the meridians, preventing qi and blood from ascending to nourish the eyes—like a silted river channel whose water cannot reach the fields. These individuals tend to be overweight, prefer rich and sweet foods, and exercise little.
For those with phlegm-dampness internal obstruction, there is one acupoint in traditional Chinese medicine meridian theory worth knowing—Fenglong (ST40). Fenglong is located on the lateral side of the lower leg, 8 cun above the tip of the lateral malleolus, on the outer edge of the tibialis anterior muscle. It belongs to the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian and is the Luo-connecting point of the stomach meridian. Traditional Chinese medicine has long held that "for excessive phlegm, one should seek Fenglong." Fenglong is regarded in meridian theory as an essential acupoint for transforming phlegm. The Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian runs through the head and face, and the spleen and stomach are the source of phlegm production. Through communicating the spleen and stomach meridians, Fenglong is closely related to the transformation and transportation of water-dampness and phlegm-turbidity in the body. This provides another dimension for understanding blurred vision caused by phlegm-dampness.
The Huangdi Neijing states: "The essential qi of the five zang and six fu organs all ascend and pour into the eyes to form visual essence." The ability of the eyes to see depends on the combined nourishment of the essential qi of the zang-fu organs.
Why Do Some People with the Same Blurred Vision Need Warming Tonification While Others Need Clearing and Draining?—The Key to Pattern Differentiation
Clinically, readers often wonder: why is it that with the same blurred vision and inability to see near objects clearly, some people feel better after drinking goji berry and chrysanthemum tea, while others feel more distended the more they drink? This is precisely the essence of traditional Chinese medicine's principle of "treating the same disease with different methods."
For those with liver blood deficiency, goji berries can indeed be somewhat helpful, but if there is concurrent spleen-stomach weakness, using goji berries alone may actually be cloying and hamper the stomach. These individuals need to address both blood nourishment and spleen strengthening, such as appropriately consuming red dates, longan, and mulberries—but the specific combination should be determined by a licensed traditional Chinese medicine practitioner based on individual constitution.
For those with kidney essence insufficiency, blind warming tonification is inappropriate. If deer antler, cinnamon, and other strongly warming substances are mistakenly used, they may consume and damage yin fluids, leading to deficiency fire flaring upward, which can actually make the eyes drier. Clinically, these individuals often need to start with "filling essence," and ingredients such as black sesame, walnuts, and Chinese yam can be used for daily maintenance—but for systematic regulation, one must consult a proper medical institution.
For those with phlegm-dampness internal obstruction, the situation is exactly the opposite—what they need is "unblocking," not "tonifying." If tonic substances are blindly taken, it is like continuing to pour water into a silted river channel, only worsening the congestion. These individuals may appropriately drink water infused with aged tangerine peel and poria, but the core lies in adjusting dietary structure and reducing greasy and sugary foods.
Clinically, blurred vision and the inability to see near objects clearly are often intertwined with other problems. For example, some individuals simultaneously experience dry mouth and tongue, vexation, and insomnia, which may belong to yin deficiency with fire hyperactivity. In such cases, simple warming tonification or clearing and draining is inappropriate, and a licensed traditional Chinese medicine practitioner must determine the treatment plan after pattern differentiation. There are also those whose blurred vision is accompanied by cold hands and feet and aversion to cold, which may belong to insufficiency of yang qi, with weak propulsion of qi and blood—different again from phlegm-dampness internal obstruction.
In traditional Chinese medicine clinical practice, when facing blurred vision and the inability to see near objects clearly, one never first asks "what medicine to use," but rather first asks "why." Is it blood deficiency? Is it essence depletion? Or is it phlegm obstruction? Or perhaps several conditions combined? This is like solving a riddle—it requires patient observation and careful discrimination. After all, the eyes are merely a window to the body; through them, we see whether the five zang and six fu organs are in harmony or not.
When you once again feel the text blurring in the morning light, take a moment to quietly sense: what other signals is your body giving? Is it fatigue and lack of energy, or heaviness in the head and chest oppression? Is it soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees, or dry mouth and tongue? These details are precisely the body conversing with you. And what truly matters may not be rushing to find a way to "see clearly," but rather first understanding the deeper meaning behind this conversation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are blurred vision and vision decline the same thing?
Traditional Chinese medicine holds that blurred vision mainly refers to indistinct sight and dryness or discomfort, while vision decline may involve more complex structural eye problems. Although the two overlap, the approaches to regulation are not entirely the same. Blurred vision is often related to dysfunction of the zang-fu organs, whereas vision decline requires ruling out organic pathology.
2. Why do goji berries work for some people with blurred vision but cause heat symptoms in others?
Goji berries are neutral in nature with a slight warming tendency, suitable for those with liver blood deficiency. However, if the constitution involves phlegm-dampness internal obstruction or yin deficiency with fire hyperactivity, taking them may promote dampness and generate heat, causing discomfort such as dry mouth and abdominal distension. Different constitutions naturally produce different reactions.
3. Are the causes of blurred vision the same for young people and elderly people?
Blurred vision in young people is mostly related to excessive eye use and depletion of qi and blood, such as prolonged screen time causing hidden depletion of liver blood. In elderly people, it more often involves kidney essence deficiency and decline of zang-fu organ function. Different ages call for different emphases in regulation.
4. Can blurred vision be completely resolved through dietary regulation alone?
Dietary regulation can serve as one method of daily maintenance, but if blurred vision continues to worsen or is accompanied by other symptoms, it is advisable to seek examination at a proper medical institution. Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes "treating disease before it arises"—adjusting lifestyle promptly when problems first appear often yields twice the result with half the effort.